Boot or shoe shaping device



(No Mode'l.)

J. E. BRAKE.

BOOT 0R SHOE SHAPING DEVICE.

No. 475,679. Patented May 24., 1892.

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UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE..

JOHN E. DRAKE, OF QUINOY, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOT OR SHOE SHAPING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,679, dated May 24, 1892.

Application filed February 15, 1892. Serial No. L121,551. (No model.)

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Be it known that I, JOHN E. DRAKE, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Quincy, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have in vented new and useful Improvements in Boot or Shoe Shaping Devices, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in boot or shoe shaping devices for the purpose of expanding and holding boots and shoes in proper shape for show purposes in windows, stores, dre., or other places where it is desired to display the goods in the best manner possible, and said invention is carried out as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l represents a side elevation of the shaping device, partly Vshown in section; and Fig. 2 representsa longitudinal section of the same, shown in position within a boot or shoe.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of the drawings. y

The device consistsof an elastic air-tight inflatable hollow form A, preferably made of india-1ubber and adapted to be inserted Within a boot or shoe, and of such a shape, size, and form that it will, when properly inflated and expanded, fit against the interior of the boot or shoe, and thus hold the upper thereof in proper shape, causin g wrinkles, creases, tbe., to be smoothed out, so as to give a natural appearance, similar to that when the boot or shoe is being worn.

The hollow form A is provided at or near its top portion with an orifice B, covered by a stop-cock C or other suitable valve or cut-off for the purpose of inliating the form after being introduced into the boot or shoe E, and to prevent the escape of air after being inflated and expanded. i

Boot or shoe expanders of this construction have heretofore been made, and I wish to state thatI do not claim such as my invention.

The objection to those heretofore made has been that being soft and yielding it has been found very difficult to introduce them within the instep and toe portions of boots and. shoes, and for the purpose of readilyvinserting the hollow expansive former within the boot or shoe I attach in a suitable manner to the under side of such expansive former a preferably semi-rigid sole-plate or stiffener D, which, although preferably made of leather or leatherboard, may, if so desired, be made of Wood, metal, hard rubber, or any other suitable rigid or semi-rigid or flexible material. The object of said stiffener or reinforcing sheet or sole is to stiffen the under side of the shoe form, so as to enable the operator to readily insert it within all parts of the interior of the boot or shoe E previous to expanding or iniiating said boot or shoe former.

In using the device the operator takes hold of the rear end of the expansive former and pushes it into the interior of the boot, after which the device is in fiated by forcing airinto it until the boot or shoe upper is caused to assume its natural wearing appearance, when the valve or stopcock C is closed, leaving the boot or shoe expanded for exhibition or show purposes, as hereinabove set forth.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation of my invention, I wish to secure by Letters Patent and claim- The herein-described boot or shoe shaping device, consisting of an inflatable expansive hollow former A, having the general shape of the interior of a boot or shoe and having attached to its under side a reinforcing-plate or sole-portion stiffener D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed.l my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 6th day of February, A. D. 1892.

JOI-IN E DRAKE Witnesses:

ALBAN ANDRN, ALICE A. PERKINS. 

